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2 for 1: Finding adventure on a flop and drop Asia Beach Break

Published September 11th, 2018

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When you just want to chill on holiday with a cocktail in hand and not totally blow the bank, Thailand, Bali and The Philippines are the go-to flop ‘n’ drop holiday spots. But after a week or so of sunning like a lizard (with sunscreen on duh), sipping on Mai Tais/Singha/Bintang and going through each of the 15 magazines (and maybe 1 book) you’ve come to the point where you’re thinking yeah, maybe I would like to get up off this beach chair and spice things up a bit…

That’s where your Asia Beach Break really equals value for money. There’s so much fun stuff to do once you’ve had a dose of R’n’R - check out this list of the best (and cheapest) beach breaks, and what to do once you get there.

Keen to head to Asia? Check out these deals on flights, tours and stays. First of all fly to Phuket return from $499* with Malaysia Airlines – on sale for all travellers under 30 with Student Flights, plus score up to 15% off Asia Tours*. Hurry, head in store to book today!

Thailand

Make your way to Ko Samui island where all of the best sunbaking happens surrounded by crystal clear water. Swim, snorkel or relax in the waterfalls at Na Muang or take a trip around Ko Samui island, visiting the 15-metre tall Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai).

Spend the days laying on the beach or island hopping on a day trip to Ang Thong Marine National Park, an archipelago of over 40 islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Tan on the beach at Koh Mae island and check out the saltwater lagoon of Thale Nai (Emerald Lake) or head to the nearby islands of Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan to snorkel. There’s so much to see and do beyond laying out at the beach plus later in the evening there’s Koh Samui's famous nightlife to enjoy.

There are so many great beaches to rest your weary body on all over Bali. From Bingin to Canguu and of course Seminyak in between, have a few cocktails at the best beach clubs like Finns, Potato Head and Sundays.

Once you’ve had your share of relaxation one of the best things you can do to shake things up is take a spill down the rapids with some high octane white water rafting. One of the great things about rafting is that it doesn’t matter what your fitness level is, there’s an awesome rafting experience sure to get the adrenaline pumping for you.

But then for those looking to burn off some of those banana pancakes there’s the Mt Batur sunrise trek. Not for the faint of heart - or fitness - this hike takes a cool 6-hours with a vertiginous ascent in the darkness of the night to arrive at the summit for a spectacular sunrise. The climb down however is possibly the hardest part taking another approximate 8-hours to descend but makes the Bintang at the end well earnt.

There’s a reason The Philippines keeps popping up on your insta feed, and it has something to do with the sprawling 1,780 islands and inlets waiting for you to take your pick from.

Of those 1,780 islands Palawan has been voted the world’s best two years in a row by Travel + Leisure magazine plus countless others and makes a great place to start. Palawan is home to plenty of lagoons, beaches, lakes and pools and of course the water is incredibly clear.

The best way to see it all is by booking an island hopping tour from El Nido or Coron and once you’ve laid out on one of the many many beaches for long enough, it’s time to get a little bit wet and head below the surface as The Philippines is one of the best spots in the world for diving and even has an underwater UNESCO World Heritage dive site.

Okay now that you've done your homework, here are some ridiculous Asia Beach Holiday Deals on flights/accommodation/tours, basically the works. Time to pack your bag with all of the bikini/boardies you own, grab your board, chuck on the double-pluggers and get out of here. Seriously, why are you still reading this, you could be at the beach by now.

Sam Aldenton is a travel writer, digital content creator (read: takes photos/videos with her iphone and sometimes a real camera) and former retail and youth trend forecaster. When she's not off discovering the world’s best pizza (an obsession picked up from her 4-years in New York), she makes her home in Brisbane, Australia. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @samaaldenton.